AN ORGANISATION that aims to support and celebrate groups that work with young people is closing due to a lack of funding.

SPARK is the operating name for East Sussex Council for Voluntary Youth Services, a charity set up in 1974.

It provides help to voluntary and community groups that work with young people and has more than 200 member groups.

But its core funding from East Sussex County Council ended last September and it will close at the end of March.

Chief executive Arwyn Thomas said: “In these difficult times, despite our best efforts over the last 12 months, we have not been able to secure sufficient funding to continue providing infrastructure support to young people’s groups.

“The board has therefore made the difficult decision to close down the organisation.

“We would like to thank everyone who has supported SPARK over the years, especially our dedicated member groups and their inspiring young people.”

SPARK has issued grants to many groups, including Eastbourne AM Rotary Club that received funding to work with SASBAH – Sussex Association for Spina Bifida and Hydrocephalus – and provide a weekend break for disabled people and their families.

The county council said it was sorry to hear the news.

A spokesman said: “We commissioned the charity to provide infrastructure support for existing and new organisations working with children and young people in East Sussex between October 2012 and September 2016.

“The value of the contract was £45,000 a year.”

He insisted support was still available for voluntary and community sector organisations.